rulespin
Paul Kruger is a PGA professional at
The Landings Club in Savannah, Georgia.
by Paul Kruger
not yet ... but soon
Recently, a PGA professional was
conducting a chipping lesson, during which
one of the student’s chips ended up resting
against the fl agstick in the hole. The PGA
professional, recognizing this situation as a
teachable moment on the Rules, immediately
asked the student, “Is that ball holed?” When
the student answered, “Not yet,” the PGA
professional replied “Great answer … and for
multiple reasons!”
The “Not yet” answer is correct with regard
to the “Now” Rules given that the present
Defi nition of “Holed” states, “A ball is “holed”
when it is at rest within the circumference of
the hole and all of it is below the level of the
hole.”
In addition to this Defi nition of “Holed,”
currently Rule 17-4 [Ball Resting Against
Flagstick] applies to this scenario, and here is
what this Rules says:
When a player’s ball rests against the
fl agstick in the hole and the ball is not holed,
the player or another person authorized by
him may move or remove the fl agstick, and
if the ball falls into the hole, the player is
deemed to have holed out with his last stroke;
otherwise, the ball if moved, must be placed
on the lip of the hole, without penalty.
The “Not yet” answer is also correct with
respect to the forthcoming “Then” Rules
because the ball in this specifi c scenario will be
considered holed beginning in 2019!
As of January 1, 2019, when a ball comes
to rest against the fl agstick in the hole, the ball
will be considered holed so long as some part
of the ball is below the surface of the putting
green! Rule 13.2c [Ball Resting Against
Flagstick in Hole] will be the applicable Rule,
reading as follows:
If a player’s ball comes to rest against the
fl agstick left in the hole:
• If any part of the ball is in the hole below
the surface of the putting green, the ball is
treated as holed even if the entire ball is not
below the surface.
• If no part of the ball is in the hole below
the surface of the putting green:
• The ball is not holed and must be played
as it lies.
• If the fl agstick is removed and the ball
moves (whether it falls into the hole or moves
away from the hole), there is no penalty and
the ball must be replaced on the lip of the
hole (see Rule 14.2)
Consistent with new Rule 13.2c is the
forthcoming changed Defi nition of “Holed.”
Take particular note of the fi nal sentence in
this Defi nition:
When a ball is at rest in the hole after a
stroke and the entire ball is below the surface
of the putting green.
When the Rules refer to “holing out” or
“hole out,” it means when the player’s ball is
holed.
For the special case of a ball resting against
the fl agstick in the hole, see Rule 13.2c (ball
is treated as holed if any part of the ball is
below the surface of the putting green).
The adjacent photograph illustrates a ball
resting against the fl agstick in the hole. Please
note that, according to new Rule 13.2c, this
ball is not holed because no part of this ball
is below the surface of the putting green!
Just because a ball may be resting against the
fl agstick does not necessarily mean that the
ball is holed under the forthcoming Rules.
Finally, note that this scenario of a ball
coming to rest against the fl agstick in the
hole after January 1, 2019 may be more of
a probability, than a mere possibility. Why?
Because, starting next year, you will be able
to leave the fl agstick in the hole when you
putt! Check out the forthcoming Rule 13.2a
[Leaving Flagstick in Hole] which states, in
part:
(1) Player May Leave Flagstick in Hole. The
player may make a stroke with the fl agstick left
in the hole, so that it is possible for the ball in
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